Goals

Monday, December 17, 2012

I don't like goals.

No, really, I don't.

Because as soon as you set a goal, you are creating the possibility for failure. If you don't have goals, then you can't fail miserably and embarrass yourself and let other people down. And then there's also the fact that you are sort-of locked in and can't change your mind later without characterizing yourself as a "failure."

I mean, yeah, you also aren't creating a space for success. You are turning down the chance to create "meaning, purpose, and guidance" in your achievements and in the little things you do every day to meet those goals. You are creating to opportunity for mediocrity and stagnation.

I think the "possibility of failure" excuse is wimpy. It's one I don't like. I mean, I don't want to be the person that thinks like that. But I do recognize that there are some real negatives that go along with goal setting - including the fact that sometimes the goal takes over your life at the expense of other good things or you are willing to take shortcuts that are unethical or dangerous to get there.

So I'm setting some goals for the next year...but they aren't going to be "SMART" goals or anything that stresses me out too much. This should be doable without losing myself but should still provide me with a sense of accomplishment and motivation. Without further ado....my fitness goals for 2013 (so far):

*Do a full body weight pull up.

*Go climbing outside.

*Run the Spartan Race. And the Texas Run For Your Lives race.

*Do that duathlon that starts in a cave in December 2013.

*Hold boat pose in yoga for 5 full breaths. Comfortably.

*Get back that hot-bod feeling. I want to wear that cute bathing suit without ever worrying about a cover up. (This is not from my hottest, but it's on the way)

*Progress with my weigh lifting. (I need to take some time to calculate out the goals I have here, so you can just lookit a picture of someone else's awesome numbers)

Yikes, just putting it down in writing makes me nervous, but those are all doable things. I can do this. BREATHE Beth, BREATHE.